Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
a pack of wolves
“What does he want?” Cyrus asks, ignoring my question.
“Recompense,” Harrison answers.
I move between the vampires. “Recompense for what?”
“I owe Callum nothing,” Cyrus answers, ignoring my question once more.
Harrison slides his hands into his pockets, looking very human for the moment. “You are correct. However, your investment,” he nods toward me, “has everything to do with you, and my blood flows through her, which means you do owe Callum something.”
“Have I suddenly gone invisible?” I wave my hands above my head for effect.
“Apologies, Violet,” Cyrus says, lowering his head. “You are not invisible, and Callum is an ancient vampire who…how shall I say this…isn’t a fan of your maker.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
The two men share a look. “I made an arrangement with him several centuries ago,” Harrison answers.
“Tell her, Chamberlin,” Cyrus demands.
My maker sighs. “Callum has rights to my children.”
I stare at Harrison, allowing his words to sink in. “Is that what I am? One of your children?”
“When we make a vampire, we are considered a parent of sorts,” Harrison says with a smirk.
“Wow,” I answer, not sure what else to say. “Ignoring all of the screwed-up family thoughts running through my mind, what does that mean for me?”
“It means Callum wants you and, through our pact, has the right to take you,” he answers simply.
“What the hell?” I move inches from my maker, anger radiating from my body. “Is there anything else you need to tell me, Dad?”
The look on Harrison’s face is a mixture of amusement and disdain. “No, my child. That is all you need to know at the moment.”
“Did you tell him about me?”
“Callum and I have not been in communication for the past century. Of course, I didn’t tell him about you.”
“Am I the only one curious about how he found out that I exist?”
Harrison looks at Cyrus. “Someone told him.”
I follow Harrison’s line of sight. “Did you…Did you…”
“No,” Cyrus interrupts. “However, I’m pretty sure we both know who did.”
“Aurora,” I answer.
“Ah, Aurora. I haven’t heard that name in a few decades.” Harrison laughs softly. “Sounds like she hasn’t changed in that time,” he says, moving across the room. He lifts his head toward the staircase. “Cyrus, I do believe you could use an air freshener in here.”
“It’s a pleasure to smell you again, too, bloodsucker,” Simon says, coming down the stairs. “A hint of urine mixed with copper always alerts me to your presence. Seems we’re both great at identifying odors.”
“Your puppy has grown quite bold since the last time we met,” my maker says to Cyrus.
“I am no one’s puppy.” Simon moves into the kitchen, wearing a loosely tied bathrobe and slippers. He looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and I love it.
“Tell me about Callum,” I demand.
Harrison sighs. “There’s not much to tell. He’s old, he’s arrogant, and he’s strong enough to get what he wants,” he answers, describing himself.
“How did you discover he was coming?” Cyrus asks my maker.
“That is none of your concern,” he answers.
“Then how do we know you’re not lying?” I ask the obvious.
Harrison crosses his arms across his chest. “Violet, I am not the evil person you think I am.”
My laugh echoes off the walls of the home. “That’s funny. The memory of you taking me to an isolated area by the river before taking my humanity and future away seems to say differently.” I’m not sure where my boldness is coming from, but I refuse to back down. “You are the epitome of evil.”
“Baby, if you think I’m evil, wait until you meet Callum.” Harrison’s words send chill bumps over my skin.
“Why do you care?” I spew. “You sold me. What does it matter if Callum collects his debt?”
Harrison steps inches from my face. “Despite what you think of me, a life with Callum would be something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Death would be more honorable.”
“So, my choices are Aurora, who will make me her killing machine, or Callum, who will…” I pause, not finishing that thought. “Both choices are great. Thank you, Harrison.” Sarcasm sounds through my voice.
“I’m here to protect you,” Harrison lies.
“We both know you don’t care what happens to me. It won’t affect you in any way. Whatever your reason to show up in Florida, protecting me isn’t it.”
“Cyrus, tell me you see through this facade?” Simon asks, standing in the kitchen doorframe.
He’s dunking a piece of burnt toast into the oversized coffee cup he’s holding.
“You’re right, Violet. It has everything to do with him, and nothing to do with protecting you.
” He takes a bite of toast, chewing longer than necessary.
“Callum discovering that Chamberlin made a baby vampire without notification is a betrayal of their deal. By warning you, he’s trying to cover his ass. ”
I turn toward my maker. “You son of a bitch.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, little one. Is that any way to speak to your father?”
Without thought, I rush toward the man who took my life with nothing but his death on my mind. I’m standing in front of him a heartbeat later. “I hate you,” I spew.
“Join the club,” Harrison answers. The smile covering his face makes me sick to my stomach. I stare into dark brown eyes, fully aware that any attempt I make to hurt him will most likely end in my death.
“Violet,” Cyrus warns from somewhere nearby.
“Don’t worry. I’m not dumb.” I take a step back. “Get out.” I point toward the door with my words.
Harrison actually looks confused. “Letting the livestock run your home now, Cyrus?”
Cyrus’s energy moves closer. “This is Violet’s home, too. She asked you to leave. I suggest you do so.”
Simon’s familiar energy moves to my other side. “I agree.”
“Cyrus, you are no match for me, and as for you, puppy…” Harrison steps toward Simon. “You are nothing more than a lycan outcast who lives with a vampire for protection.”
Simon shifts into wolf form a second later, making Harrison smirk.
“You proved my point perfectly. Nothing but an out-of-control child.” He turns toward my buyer.
“Callum is coming. Aurora is the safer choice if you want her to live. Yes, I’m here to protect myself, but as a father,” he places his hand on his chest and pauses dramatically, “I want all my children to live.” He scoffs at his words.
“God, I can’t even say that with a straight face. ”
“Get the fuck out!” I shout.
“My pleasure,” he says before disappearing a heartbeat later. Simon runs through the door, no doubt following my maker. Anger fills me, and my emotions are all over the place. I’m torn between breaking something or running away. Neither would solve anything.
Several minutes pass before anger is replaced by dread. “What does this mean?” I ask Cyrus, who is still standing in the same spot as earlier.
He sighs. “It means we need help.”
I cross my arms in front of me. “What good will that do? If we manage to take out Callum, we still have to deal with Aurora. I’m screwed no matter what.”
Simon enters the still-open door back in human form. “He’s gone,” he announces. I focus on not staring at the giant naked man in the doorframe.
“Thank you, Simon,” Cyrus answers.
“There’s more to the story than Chamberlin told,” Simon adds. “He doesn’t do anything for anyone other than himself.”
“Agreed.” Cyrus sits gracefully on the stiff couch. “My guess is that Callum has already been in contact with Chamberlin. His coming here today was about self-preservation and…”
Cyrus’s words are cut short by the sound of metal crashing to the ground. An energy rushes me so quickly, I don’t have time to react. “What?” I start.
“Take her now!” Cyrus shouts as Simon shifts simultaneously. My buyer turns to me. “Go with Simon.”
“Why?”
He’s in front of me instantly. “Trust me, Violet. Go now. I will find you.”
For once, I don’t ask questions. I nod, grabbing a handful of wolf hair as the two of us exit the house and garden into the city.
Simon moves quicker in wolf form than in human form.
However, I find myself slowing to keep pace.
The energy radiating from him is anxious, adding to the nervousness I feel.
Questions fly through my mind in rapid succession as we run through the streets of downtown St. Augustine, passing humans with no explanation.
Simon stops in front of the now familiar fort. A long nose nudges me behind a large oak tree, where he shifts back into human form. “Are you okay?” he asks.
“Yes. Are you?” He nods, catching his breath. “What was that?” I ask. “That energy felt different.”
“My guess is Callum. Chamberlin wasn’t here to warn you. He delivered you on a silver platter.” He runs a hand through his already messy hair. “Bastard.”
“What are we going to do?”
Simon sits heavily on the grass lawn. “Going back to the house isn’t safe.”
“Will he hurt Cyrus?” My stomach leaps into my throat with my words.
“Cyrus is one of the strongest vampires I know. He might hurt him, but he won’t kill him.”
I wipe a stray tear. The thought of Cyrus being injured because of me brings emotions to the surface. Emotions I don’t have time to figure out.
“Where do we go?”
Simon stands, wiping grass from his naked body. “We’re going to Savannah.”
“Georgia? Why?” I ask.
“Lucien Creed,” he answers.
“The warlock who might be able to help with Aurora?”
He nods. “He’s the strongest practitioner I know. If he can’t help, he’ll know someone who can.”
“What about Cyrus?”
“He’ll find you,” he answers.
“He’ll find us,” I correct.
Simon scoffs. “It’s not me he’s going to be looking for.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re an investment, Violet. I’m a friend.” Simon turns toward a nearby house. “Come on. I need to find something to wear.” Heat rises to my cheeks, and I refuse to look down at the naked lycanthrope in front of me. He smiles, sensing my turmoil. “Am I your first naked man?”
“What?” I clear my throat. “I’ve seen plenty of naked men,” I lie.
Simon’s laugh echoes off the bricks of the fort. “You’re a terrible liar.” We move to the garden entrance of the house, spotting a clothesline full of button-down shirts and work pants. “You’re faster than me. Can you…”
Before he has time to finish, I’m in the garden area, pulling a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt off the line. I’m back over the fence, leaving no clues of my theft. “I hope this works. I didn’t have time to be picky.”
“These are perfect,” he answers, sliding into the thread-worn clothes.
“How are we getting to Savannah?”
“I’m going to have to call in a favor,” he answers, buttoning the top button on his shirt. “Let’s go.” He laces my hand through his elbow, leading me away from the city and into a less populated area.
We walk several miles before turning onto a narrow gravel road. “Is this you calling in a favor?” I ask.
Simon stops walking. “Yes,” he whispers. “We’re surrounded,” he adds. “Don’t make any quick movements.”
“I don’t feel anything,” I whisper back.
“You will.” A howl sounds to my right, drawing my attention into the sparse vegetation.
Another sounds from my left, bringing the hairs on my arm to attention.
Just as Simon said, a rush of energy hits me in the chest. It’s the same as his, only stronger and more of it. “Let me do the talking,” he warns.
“Look what the bat dragged in,” a man says, stepping out of seemingly nowhere.
“The prodigal wolf has returned,” his twin says, moving to his side. “Looks like he’s brought a vamp with him.” He raises his head high in the air. “She smells new.”
“Where’s my father?” Simon asks.
The men laugh in creepy unison. “Oh, now you need us?”
“I’m not doing this.” Simon wraps a protective arm around my shoulder, ushering me away from the Bobbsey twins and further down the road.
The men run in front of us. “Don’t make us stop you, brother.”
Brother?
“I’d like to see you try,” Simon retorts. The twins shift into matching wolves a heartbeat later, and Simon copies their move. Their growls echo off the dense forest. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do other than stand there and watch.
“Boys!” a loud voice pierces the animal noise. “What the hell are you doing?” Out of nowhere appears the largest man I’ve ever seen. He’s wearing a button-down shirt that’s barely big enough to cover his body. Most of the buttons are pulled tighter than Carol’s chastity belt.
All three wolves immediately stop, staring at the oversized man. The twins shift back into human form, their faces looking down in submission. Simon follows suit.
“What’s the meaning of this?” the man asks.
“Simon brought a vamp to our home,” one of the twins answers.
The large man looks between the three lycan, then over to me. He steps closer, sniffing the air around me. A large hand extends toward me, and a warm smile replaces the scowl that covered his face moments earlier. “Gideon Ward.”
I lay my hand inside of his, shaking gently. “Violet Du Four.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Violet.” He turns toward Simon. “No matter what’s brought you home, I’m thankful you’re here.”
“We need your help,” Simon answers.
“Of course he does,” one of the twins responds.
“That’s enough, Samuel,” Gideon reprimands before turning back toward Simon. “Whatever you need, son.”
Son? I stare at the giant lycanthrope before turning toward the annoying twins.
“We need to get to Savannah,” Simon answers.
Gideon stares longer than necessary before responding. “Okay.” He shifts from one foot to the other. “You need to come inside first.”
Simon sighs. “Dad, I…”
“I insist,” Gideon interrupts.
“Yes, sir,” he answers. The alpha wolf turns, and Simon motions for me to follow. He moves behind me, blocking me from his brothers as we move further into the forest. How did my life go from dreaming of a career in fashion to following a small pack of wolves to my possible death?